Life Movements in Plants, Volume IIBose, Jagadis Chandra
Science
Life Movements in Plants, Volume II
Bose, Jagadis Chandra
Growth (Plants); Plants -- Irritability and movements
I resumed my investigations on the subject at the beginning of this
year. I wished to find out whether plants in general perceived and
responded to the long ether waves which reached it from a distance. The
perception of the wireless stimulation was to be tested not merely by
the responsive movement of sensitive plants, but by diverse modes of
response given by all kinds of plants.
Stimulus induces, as we have seen, three different types of response in
plants. It causes excitation in sensitive plants like _Mimosa_, in
consequence of which the leaf undergoes a fall; this is the mechanical
response to stimulus. Stimulus also induces electric response in plants,
both sensitive and ordinary, the excited tissue undergoing an electric
change of galvanometric negativity. Finally, the effect of stimulus on
growing plants is a variation in the rate of growth, an acceleration
under feeble, and a retardation under strong stimulus. I undertook to
investigate the effect of electric waves on plants by the methods of
mechanical and of electrical responses, and also by that of induced
variation of growth.
[Illustration: FIG. 153.--Diagrammatic representation of method employed
for obtaining response to wireless stimulation. Transmitting apparatus
seen to the right. Receiving aerial connected to upper part of plant,
the lower part of the plant or the flower-pot being connected with the
earth.]
THE WIRELESS SYSTEM.
For sending wireless signals, I had to improvise the following
arrangement, more powerful means not being available. The secondary
terminals of a moderate sized Ruhmkorff's coil were connected with two
cylinders of brass, each 20 cm. in length; the sparking took place
between two small spheres of steel attached to the cylinders. One of the
two cylinders was earthed, and the other connected with the aerial 10
meters in height. The receiving aerial was also 10 meters in height and
its lower terminal led to the laboratory, and connected by means of a
thin wire to the experimental plant growing in a pot; this latter was
put in electric connection with the earth (Fig. 153). The distance
between the transmitting and receiving aerial was about 200 meters, the
maximum length permitted by the grounds of the Institute.
MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF _Mimosa_.
_Experiment 159._--One of the leaves of _Mimosa_ was connected with the
aerial by means of a thin tinsel of loose wire, which did not interfere
with the free movement of the leaf. This latter was attached to the
recording lever. Wireless signals induced a responsive fall of the leaf
(Fig. 154) which was gradual as under action of light, and not so abrupt
as under a mechanical blow.
[Illustration: FIG. 154.--Mechanical response of leaf of _Mimosa_ to
electric wave.]
[Illustration: FIG. 155.--Electric response of _Mimosa pudica_ to
wireless stimulation.]
THE ELECTRIC RESPONSE.
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